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Forum Discussion
Devices connecting to distant router instead of nearby satellites
Our school is having an issue where devices in our mesh network are sometimes connecting to the distant Orbi router/base rather than the Orbi satellite that is right in the room with them a few feet ...
What is the size of the building? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router 📡 and satellite(s)🛰️? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR 📡 and RBS 🛰️ to begin with depending upon building materials when wired or wirelessly connected.
Also try turning down the power output of the RBRs wifi radios from 100% to 50% and see if this changes anything. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings
Thank you for your interest in helping.
Here is a map of our campus with locations and distances of everything. The red dots are the problem areas where staff are occasionally experiencing terrible internet. When I take a look at what they are connected to, it is the distant Router instead of the satellite that is just a few feet away. This happens about 30% of the time.
I can try turning down the power output of the Router. It is currently connecting to distant satellites nicely (125 ft line of sight) so I am a little worried that I will lose that distance, but I will see what happens.
But still, it seems like there should be a way to make sure the devices connect to the satellite nearby which have a nice powerful signal in that area. When they connect to the router, I can see that it has a super weak signal. Any other insights, tips, or advice would be appreciated.
So with users in Building A, those devices are connecting to the router in the main building?
Might also turn OFF SAT1 in the main building. Possible too much wifi signal here.
It's up to wifi devices to pick and chose where they connected too, even IF the signal maybe at a low level from the router.
90 and 125 feet is possibly too far in distances...
Let us know if setting 50% on the RBR changes anything.
FURRYe38 wrote:So with users in Building A, those devices are connecting to the router in the main building?
Yes. It is really odd since the main building router is so far away, but their device is picking that super weak connection over the very fast and strong satellite one nearby.
FURRYe38 wrote:Might also turn OFF SAT1 in the main building. Possible too much wifi signal here.
Sat 1 is on the 1st floor and the router is on the 2nd floor with some thick walls in between. With Sat 1 off, we are left with very poor signal from the router on the 1st floor.
FURRYe38 wrote:90 and 125 feet is possibly too far in distances...
It is a long distance but the Orbi router is reaching the satellite successfully. Pretty impressive actually. The direct line-of -sight from the router to Sat 3 is helpful. The 90 ft from Sat 2 to Sat 4 has no issues.
FURRYe38 wrote:Let us know if setting 50% on the RBR changes anything.
Will do. I am no longer there for today, so I will try it out tomorrow or the next day.
Thanks for your help!
Zakariyya wrote:
I can try turning down the power output of the Router. It is currently connecting to distant satellites nicely (125 ft line of sight) so I am a little worried that I will lose that distance, but I will see what happens.
The Transmit Power setting affects only User Facing WiFi radios. It does not affect the 5G WiFi connection between router and satellites. Reducing Transmit Power typically makes access points that are farther away less desirable to user devices.
How does the Orbi Attached Devices display report the satellite connections to the router (and the Daisy Chain) to Building E? Do they all show as "5G Good"? What does it report about those Apple laptop connections?
p.s. I had thought that Orbi routers (base units) only function when their WAN port is connected to the network with an Ethernet cable, no matter which 'mode' they are set to (router vs. access point). How is that spare router in Building B connected?
CrimpOn wrote:The Transmit Power setting affects only User Facing WiFi radios. It does not affect the 5G WiFi connection between router and satellites. Reducing Transmit Power typically makes access points that are farther away less desirable to user devices.
OK. Good to know. I'll see how it goes.
CrimpOn wrote:How does the Orbi Attached Devices display report the satellite connections to the router (and the Daisy Chain) to Building E? Do they all show as "5G Good"? What does it report about those Apple laptop connections?
I am no longer there today to be able to check on that display, but previously I remember the connections all showing as "Good." Here is what I see on the Orbi remote accessing remotely. All of them show as connected by 5 Ghz
CrimpOn wrote:
p.s. I had thought that Orbi routers (base units) only function when their WAN port is connected to the network with an Ethernet cable, no matter which 'mode' they are set to (router vs. access point). How is that spare router in Building B connected?It is connected via ethernet cable. Sorry I should have mentioned that. It is actually connected to the modem so it is currently separate from the Orbi mesh network. Coverage in that area is fine though.
I am off site for the rest of the day, but I will try some of this tomorrow or the next day and let you know.
Thanks for your help!
